The hottest Music Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Music Topics

Assorted Home Audio (Goodbye Sonos!)

laserllama's blog • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🎶 Music Speakers Streaming Home Theater
  1. Sonos gear was removed because AirPlay and Apple Music cloud integration felt unreliable, and replacing it with Denon units in the bedroom and a small room gave better bass and more reliable AirPlay.
  2. The Goldenear Supercinema XL passive soundbar is very monitor‑like and accurate, so it needs a proper amp and a sub to reach its potential and can expose low‑quality sources.
  3. Desktop audio was upgraded to compact Adam Audio D3V monitors that sound great for electronic music, and AirPlay to multiple devices over ethernet worked fine so whole‑home Sonos features and niche streaming services felt unnecessary.

Coming soon

Eric Harper • 0 implied HN points • 22 May 24
🎶 Music
  1. Eric Harper is launching something new soon on his Substack page.
  2. The Substack link provided leads to Eric Harper's profile.
  3. The post encourages readers to subscribe for updates on what's coming soon.

Get people moving

Creative Samba • 0 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🎶 Music Production Music genres Creative Arts Live performance
  1. Copywriting and DJing share similarities, especially in how they engage their audience. Both require understanding people and creating an emotional connection.
  2. Theo Parrish believes that any crowd can be captivated with the right approach and skill. This highlights the importance of adaptability in performance.
  3. The DJ craft involves a sense of creative responsibility, especially when facing challenging crowds. It emphasizes the duty of an artist to connect and uplift their audience.
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A Quartet of Musical-Movies (Ch. 15)

Ink-uilab • 0 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🎶 Music Classical Film Literature Verse
  1. The newsletter highlights the beauty of Hindustani Classical Music through four different films.
  2. Physician-writers have made significant contributions to literature, blending their medical knowledge with their artistic endeavors.
  3. Authors like Atul Gawande and Siddhartha Mukherjee have used their medical experiences to write non-fiction books.

Who is Violet Paniko?

Xavi Benjamin • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎶 Music Artist profile Production Lessons Learned
  1. Violet Paniko had a successful year in 2023, with around 20k song streams in the first year of creating music.
  2. Collaboration with producers Cardec and NoLa was a highlight for Violet Paniko's music project.
  3. The post discusses what went well, what didn't, and the lessons learned for the future.

Enjoy the Power of Music

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 17 May 20
🎶 Music Power Experience
  1. Relax and enjoy some time outside to lift your spirits and bring happiness.
  2. Upgrade your dining experience with music to create a calming atmosphere.
  3. Find joy in small moments, like capturing a pop of floral color in a photo to share with others.

Is Sonos dying in 2026? Sonos and Unintentional WiFi Jamming with Surrounds, Apple Music Problems

laserllama's blog • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🎶 Music Streaming Hardware Connectivity Home Theater Customer Support
  1. Sonos’s Apple Music integration is unreliable and AirPlay doesn’t work well across multiple speakers, which undermines the whole‑home audio experience.
  2. SonosNet surrounds can seriously interfere with 5 GHz Wi‑Fi; removing surrounds noticeably improved network speeds.
  3. Support and recent app changes have worsened the experience, so using a traditional AVR and quality speakers with an Apple TV is a practical alternative, while Sonos Amp or soundbars can still work for specific setups.

What I Learnt about Buying High-end Speakers

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 29 May 25
🎶 Music Audio Equipment Speakers
  1. Decide what you want from your speaker setup first. If you just want to enjoy music at home, go for stereo speakers.
  2. Stereo systems often provide better sound for music than multi-channel systems, which tend to be geared towards movies.
  3. Choosing floorstanding speakers is usually better than bookshelf ones because they create fuller sound on their own without needing a subwoofer.

Some Ends of Some Years

Useful Noise • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🎶 Music Album review Music Trends Song analysis Music Industry Artist Profiles
  1. The article discusses the cultural issues that music faced at the end of the 20th century, especially in the years 1999 and 2001.
  2. There is a focus on the music and artists of those years, showcasing a mix of genres and styles.
  3. The writing expresses personal opinions and reflections on the music scene, highlighting noteworthy albums and artists.

Soundscapes Radio

SJF • 0 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🎶 Music Music Production Streaming services
  1. Soundscapes Radio is a series of music composed by the author while living in Tokyo.
  2. Composing music quickly and without doubt helped the author improve their skills.
  3. The author learned mixing and mastering by working on 600 minutes of music for Soundscapes Radio.

Coming soon

Greg’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎶 Music
  1. Greg has a Substack newsletter coming soon.
  2. The Substack link is gregtidanian.substack.com.
  3. You can subscribe to Greg's newsletter and share the post.

Sometimes Music Is Just Better Than Words

The Reclamation Era • 0 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🎶 Music Playlists Emotions Memories Curation Personal Stories
  1. Music often expresses feelings that words cannot. Sometimes, when we struggle to find the right words, a song can say everything we need to convey.
  2. Letting go can be tough, whether it's memories, beautiful moments, or the seasons changing. It's important to appreciate what we have rather than hold on too tightly.
  3. Creating playlists for different moods can help us connect with our emotions. Curating music is a way to remember and feel, making tough times a little easier.

Mother 93

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 13 Sep 10
🎶 Music Rock Pop History Culture Events
  1. The song 'Mother 93' by Danzig became a huge hit in early 1994, marking an exciting moment in music history. People everywhere, even those who had never heard of Danzig before, were suddenly talking about it.
  2. At that time, many other major music releases were still to come, which made 'Mother 93' feel like it appeared out of nowhere and filled a gap in popular music.
  3. The impact of Kurt Cobain's death shortly after the song's rise likely changed the music scene and Danzig's future, showing how quickly everything can shift in pop culture.

Best otherwise unreleased B-side ever?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 11
🎶 Music Genres Artists Albums
  1. Some famous B-sides might be better than the A-sides they were paired with. For example, "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles was a double A-side but left off their album.
  2. B-sides can sometimes surprise fans who only know the hits. Songs like Pearl Jam's "Yellow Ledbetter" started as B-sides, showing a different side of the band.
  3. Many classic bands have hidden gems among their B-sides, like Madonna’s "Into the Groove" and U2's "Sweetest Thing," which fans might not realize weren't on the main albums.

GOOD MUSIC 01/2024

GOOD INTERNET • 0 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🎶 Music Indie Hip-hop Pop Rock
  1. The post features new tracks from various artists like POND, Faye Webster, IDLES, Fat White Family, Kim Gordon, and more.
  2. The author shares monthly curated songs from their other blog 'GOOD MUSIC,' offering a collection of fresh tunes and emerging bands.
  3. Genres covered range from indie rock, hip hop, electronica, arty synth funk, to hardcore and angsty alt-rock, providing a diverse music selection.

Conversations with Myself

polymathematics • 0 implied HN points • 06 Apr 22
🎶 Music Albums Genres Artists Performances Criticism
  1. Clear language is important, and honesty helps achieve it. When people aren't sincere, communication gets messy.
  2. Some people, like the musician Bill Evans, enjoy performing but prefer to do it alone. They find more joy in playing for themselves than for an audience.
  3. The album 'Conversations with Myself' is a personal favorite, showing how music can express deep thoughts and feelings.

What's in a (band) name?

polymathematics • 0 implied HN points • 11 May 23
🎶 Music Music theory Cultural impact Social media
  1. Good band names can create a strong identity for the music group. A catchy or memorable name helps people remember and connect with the band.
  2. There's a debate about whether the name truly matters or if the music itself is more important. Some believe any name can work if the music is great.
  3. Choosing a name is a creative process, and many bands struggle with it. The right name can capture the essence of what the band stands for.

Singing a Song with Data

Handy Data • 0 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🎶 Music Classical music Data Analysis Composers Cultural impact Creative Process
  1. European countries like Germany and Austria had a significant concentration of classical music composers, reflecting a rich cultural heritage and historical support that influenced the development of musical talent.
  2. Most classical composers had lifespans between 60 to 80 years, with some outliers, showcasing how personal health and living conditions played a role in their creative lives.
  3. Composers had a varied range of composition durations, with works lasting between 20 to 50 minutes being common, while some, like Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Mass in B minor,' pushed the boundaries with significantly longer pieces.

Some Plugin Testing / Effects Setup

laserllama's blog • 0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🎶 Music Instruments Production Techniques Effects Sound design
  1. There are cool plugins for music production, like CableGuys Snapback, which adds effects just before sounds hit, making transitions smoother. They help make your tracks more interesting without being too overwhelming.
  2. Guitar pedals can be fun to use with synths, giving you a hands-on experience while making music. Setting them up for each synth can be tricky, but allows for greater creativity and spontaneity.
  3. Plugins like PitchMonster can enhance sounds, not just for vocals but also for instruments like monosynths. They offer a lot of control, making it easier to create unique sounds without getting lost in presets.

On Record Sequencing

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jul 10
🎶 Music Music theory Album review Song analysis Rock music Music history
  1. Some rock albums have every song getting played on the radio. Boston's first album and Led Zeppelin IV are good examples of this.
  2. The order of songs on an album can really change how people enjoy it. Great albums like Boston and Sgt. Pepper have well-thought-out song sequences.
  3. Bad song sequencing can hurt an album's success, especially if listeners miss the best songs. An example is Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run, which has a sequencing issue that many fans notice.

Music question. And you might not want to know the answer.

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 10 Dec 10
🎶 Music Music Industry Songwriting Pop Music Rock music Cultural impact
  1. Desmond Child is a prolific songwriter who has written many popular songs across different artists. It's surprising to learn that one person can be behind so many hits.
  2. Some music fans feel that Desmond Child's influence changed the sound and style of famous rock bands, making them softer and more mainstream. This has led to mixed feelings about the evolution of these artists.
  3. Discovering the connections between songs can make you rethink your musical preferences and the true nature of the music industry. It might change how you see the art of songwriting.

...Your Yankee Bluejeans

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jun 10
🎶 Music Rock Industry Culture History Individualism
  1. British rock bands are often seen as more cohesive units, while American music is often focused on individual stars.
  2. Cultural differences, such as the American value of individualism, may influence the music scenes in the two countries.
  3. The structure of the music industry has evolved differently in the U.S. and the U.K., reinforcing these trends over time.

Born to Sequence

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jul 10
🎶 Music Albums Song analysis Cultural Commentary
  1. The main story of the album 'Born to Run' is about a young man's growing disillusionment with his life and his longing to escape with someone special. It captures the struggle and feelings of wanting more from life.
  2. The five crucial songs, including 'Thunder Road' and 'Jungleland', create a cohesive narrative that reflects this journey from hope to realization of life's harsh realities.
  3. The sequencing of the songs can change the story's meaning, with 'Thunder Road' representing both an ending and a new beginning, suggesting a mix of optimism despite the darker themes in the other songs.

More Songwriting In Nowhere

The False Consensus Effect • 0 implied HN points • 12 Mar 21
🎶 Music Songwriting Lyrics Artists Albums
  1. Songwriting can be a valuable and rewarding practice that allows for creative expression and personal growth.
  2. Embrace the amateur mindset in creative endeavors, allowing room for experimentation and the freedom to fail without the pressure of perfection.
  3. Reflect on personal experiences and emotions as inspirations for songs, embracing simplicity and honesty in storytelling.

A Songbook by Mirlo · Cancionero de Mirlo

Mirlo Studio • 0 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🎶 Music NFTs Ebook Podcast Songs
  1. The Songbook by Mirlo is a selection of essential stories and emotions that have been passed down through generations and inspired great composers.
  2. The book includes songs like Canción de Orfeo, Canción de Ulises, Canción de Orlando, and Canción de Papageno with music by renowned composers like Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Glück, and Mozart.
  3. The Songbook is available for purchase as a new eBook in Spanish and as Digital Cards - NFTs, along with special products like T-shirts and mugs.

This Is My Second Album Release

Brian Knapp’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🎶 Music Album release Podcast
  1. Brian Knapp released his second full album, VCR GOLD RUSH 2023: THE ALBUM, featuring theme songs for Virtual Championship Rasslin project.
  2. The album merges classic pro wrestling theme music with a touch of humor, akin to Weird Al Yankovic's style.
  3. Alongside the album release, Brian Knapp also dropped the single Johnny Cadillac Theme Song on various streaming platforms.

Get your ya-yas out!

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Apr 11
🎶 Music Music history
  1. Some live albums become a band's most famous work, like Peter Frampton's 'Frampton Comes Alive!' and Cheap Trick's 'At Budokan.'
  2. It's rare for a live album to be more iconic than a band's studio work, since big bands usually have well-known studio hits.
  3. Not many artists have live albums that overshadow their studio albums, making those that do, like Johnny Cash's 'Live at Folsom Prison,' special.

Platform Power and Platform Bias in the Music Industry

Platform Papers • 0 implied HN points • 16 Mar 22
🎶 Music Digital Platforms Playlists Music Industry Influence Bias
  1. Large digital platforms like Spotify can influence the success of songs and artists by controlling playlists and exposure.
  2. Appearing on Spotify's popular playlists can lead to significant increases in streams and commercial success for artists.
  3. While Spotify has the power to impact success, there are indications of bias favoring independent-label music and music by women, raising questions about fair treatment in the music industry.

Cello Show Pieces

Variations on a Theme • 0 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🎶 Music Classical
  1. Cello show pieces are organized by difficulty levels, from I to XII, with a variety of composers and compositions.
  2. Pieces like 'Song of the Birds' by Casals, 'Fantasy Pieces' by Schumann, and 'The Swan' by Saint-Saens are recommended for advanced players in Levels V to IX.
  3. The highest difficulty levels (X to XII) feature challenging works like 'Introduction and Polonaise Brillante' by Chopin and 'Pezzo Capriccioso' by Tchaikovsky.

Mirlo Music TIENDA

Mirlo Studio • 0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🎶 Music Art & Illustration Literature
  1. The store offers exclusive products combining literature, illustrations, and music.
  2. They are exploring digital collectibles like NFTs, providing educational and artist support.
  3. They welcome feedback on their products and upcoming titles for continuous improvement.

Playlist: What We Do

Sounds Good! • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎶 Music Playlist
  1. The playlist has a low-key, 60s-infused vibe perfect for a chill Sunday night.
  2. You can listen to the playlist anytime, not just on Sundays.
  3. Consider supporting the work by becoming a free or paid subscriber.